The Draft Constitution is at my Office says Kabimba, blaming Technical Committee for the delay

Wynter Kabimba

The Draft of the new constitution document is at my office, Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba disclosed to delegates at the Summit on the Constitution making process convened in Lusaka April 30, 2014 ending speculations on the whereabouts of the document.

And Kabimba who is also the governing party – Patriotic Front (PF) General Secretary said the Technical Committee on the Constitution appointed by President Michale Sata diverted from the prescription of his party’s manifesto hence the delay.

Asked to be categorical state where the Draft Constitution produced by the Technical Committee was, Mr. Kabimba said the document was handed to Ministry of Justice. He said the Technical Committee has since been dissolved.

Mr. Kabimba who was put to task to explain when the document will be made available to the public and why it has not been made available at the same time said this will only happen after it has been tabled by Cabinet. He said he could not at this time indicate the exact date but assured that this will be done within the ‘reasonable time.’

The Justice Minister said he has not read the content of the document but disclosed that from the briefing he has had with the Technical Committee, the Draft was disjoint.

In his one hour presentation, Mr. Kabimba explained the history of the constitution making process in Zambian and gave some of the challenges being faced. He accused the Technical Committee of having diverted from the PF manifesto hence the delay in the process.

Mr. Kabimba explained that the Technical Committee conducted Districts, Provincial and National conferences which has resulted into a disjoint process. He wondered which of these conferences which he said were stand alone represents the will of the people.

The Minister stated that it is at this point difficult to tell which of these events organised by the Techinical Committee represents the people of Zambia. He said consensus was cardinal in the constitution making process and commended Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) for organising the event.

He assured the 71 Delegates from different organisations that government will not doctor the Draft Constitution.

Mr. Kabimba said there was too much rumor mongering in the country citing rumors that he had secretly appointed committee at his Ministry to doctoring the final draft constitution. He dismissed the assertions and declared that his office was open to the public to verify on anything rather than people resorting on rumors.
He however pointed out that the process to enact a new constitution will be a long one. He said the country needs to hold Referendum which must be preceded by a census. He said according to the law, the census can only be held in 2020 which will be 10 years after the last Census.

He said it is against this background that the process does not grant having a new constitution before 2016 as it is being demanded.

Mr. Kabimba also explained that much as his party is committed to delivering a people driven constitution, it is not on the top priority. He said Education, Health, Agriculture and Local government were the PF government’s top priority that will see direct benefit on the people that voted PF into government.